Kelly Fails To Make U.s. Olympic Baseball Team Veterans Pat Borders, Ernie Young Lead Team Of Prospects, Minor Leaguers.

August 24, 2000|The Morning Call By LARRY O'ROURKE, The Morning Call

They took a look at Pat Kelly, the Catasauqua graduate and former New York Yankees second baseman. They took a longer look at Tim Raines. They talked with Orel Hershiser.

But none of those retired major leaguers was on the Sydney, Australia-bound roster announced Wednesday by the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team's selection committee.

Instead, 1992 World Series Most Valuable Player Pat Borders, who at 37 still catches for Triple-A Durham in Tampa Bay's farm system, and Ernie Young, a 31-year-old former big-league outfielder currently in St. Louis' farm system, were the seasoned veterans selected to lead a U.S. team that will otherwise be comprised of longtime minor leaguers and some young prospects.

Five of the 29 players will be designated alternates before the team, managed by Tommy Lasorda, begins play Sept. 17 vs. Japan.

Kelly, who was the Yankees' primary starting second baseman for the 1992 and 1993 seasons and compiled a .249 average during a 1991-99 career with New York, St. Louis and Toronto, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But in an Aug. 2 story, Kelly told The Morning Call that his surgically repaired right arm was `really not doing well` and that selection committee co-Chairman Bob Watson told him his chances `don't look good.`

Kelly, 32, who now lives in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and Raines paid their own expenses to play a July 17-20 stint with the independent Somerset (N.J.) Patriots, a cameo that afforded Watson a chance to evaluate their play. Raines rejoined the Patriots on Aug. 16 for further evaluation.